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Cardinal sounds abortion warning Cardinal sounds abortion warning
(about 2 hours later)
Catholic politicians who defend abortion cannot expect to remain full members of the Church, Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic will warn. Catholic politicians who defend abortion should not expect to remain full members of the church, Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic will warn.
In a sermon marking 40 years since the Abortion Act, Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien will threaten to bar pro-choice politicians from taking Communion. In a sermon marking 40 years since the Abortion Act, Cardinal Keith O'Brien said pro-abortion MPs should consider their stance on taking Holy Communion.
He will urge voters at Edinburgh's St Mary's Cathedral to reject candidates who defend what he calls a social evil. He will urge voters at Edinburgh's St Mary's Cathedral to reject candidates who defend a "social evil".
The cardinal's opponents accuse him of using extreme, inflammatory language. The cardinal's opponents have accused him of using inflammatory language.
We're told by statisticians that the equivalent of a classroom of children every day are being aborted in their mothers' womb Cardinal Keith O'BrienWe're told by statisticians that the equivalent of a classroom of children every day are being aborted in their mothers' womb Cardinal Keith O'Brien
They say it is up to elected officials to decide such ethical issues without facing threats from Church leaders. They said it is up to elected officials to decide such ethical issues without facing threats from church leaders.
Abortion is a reserved issue legislated over by politicians at Westminster.Abortion is a reserved issue legislated over by politicians at Westminster.
The BBC's Robert Pigott says Cardinal O'Brien is frustrated by what he sees as the marginalisation of Christian values in public affairs. BBC religious affairs correspondent, Robert Pigott, said Cardinal O'Brien has been frustrated by what he sees as the marginalisation of Christian values in public affairs.
It is his boldest intervention yet in political life, our correspondent says. He has embarked on his boldest intervention yet in political life, our correspondent said.
His sermon attacks the 1967 Act, describing the roughly seven million abortions in Britain since then as an "unspeakable crime" and the "wanton killing of innocents". His sermon attacks the 1967 act, describing the roughly seven million abortions in Britain since then as an "unspeakable crime" and the "wanton killing of innocents".
The cardinal told the BBC: "We're told by statisticians that the equivalent of a classroom of children every day are being aborted in their mothers' womb - basically murdered in their mothers' womb."The cardinal told the BBC: "We're told by statisticians that the equivalent of a classroom of children every day are being aborted in their mothers' womb - basically murdered in their mothers' womb."
But his intervention has angered some politicians. Jeremy Purvis, a Liberal Democrat member of the Scottish Parliament, said the cardinal was using "inflammatory" language. However, his intervention has angered some politicians. Jeremy Purvis, a Liberal Democrat member of the Scottish Parliament, said the cardinal was using "inflammatory" language.
He said: "It is not right that we would be seen to be put under pressure, or indeed some members threatened, by a religious leader on what is a very sensitive issue."He said: "It is not right that we would be seen to be put under pressure, or indeed some members threatened, by a religious leader on what is a very sensitive issue."